Chattahoochee Riverkeeper is holding its first-ever Waterfest event in Gainesville on Earth Day, giving the public a chance to enjoy live music, food, drinks and education on the group's water conservation efforts.
The event, which is presented by NoFo Brew Co. with help from the City of Gainesville Parks and Recreation and Department of Water Resources, will be held from 2 to 8 p.m. on April 22 on the Midland Greenway. The event is free and open to the public. It also serves as a fundraiser in support of CRK's water conservation efforts in and around Lake Lanier and the headwaters of the Chattahoochee River.
Waterfest will feature a variety of local bands and musicians, including youth bands from the Let There Be Rock School, Malachi Mills, Fukushima Tuna, Sweet Auburn String Band and Velvet City Sound.
The festival will feature an Environmental Expo where guests can connect with other local organizations, as well as an online silent auction in support of CRK's mission. Everyone can bid online, even if they are not attending the festival, for items including rain barrels hand-painted by local artists.
“With the important goal of reaching new community members of all ages and spreading the word about our growing programs in the headwaters, we are very excited to host this new, one-of-a-kind event,” said Mallory Pendleton, the festival organizer and CRK’s Headwaters Outreach Manager. “Celebrating CRK’s efforts alongside fellow organizations is really meaningful on its own, but doing so in a way that is inclusive to all community members and with the City of Gainesville’s support is all the more special. Bring a lawn chair and picnic blanket and join us for a fun afternoon!”
CRK has employed strategies since 1994 including water quality testing, litter cleanups, research and education in the headwaters region as part of its mission to protect the Chattahoochee watershed. CRK co-manages the Lake Lanier Aquatic Learning Center, one of only two "floating classroom" experiences in Georgia.
More information about Waterfest can be found here.
